Carton strapping-assist device

ABSTRACT

A device for aiding persons in strapping cartons having interlocking bottoms and sides is provided, and comprises an elongated rod having clamping means connected to an end thereof, which clamping means are utilized to hold together bendable flaps which extend outwardly from the bottom of the carton and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the sides of the carton.

I 1 1.] 3,740,046 June 19, 1973 53/198 Vollans.................................. 269/1 2,801,507 8/1957 Claus et 2,980,913 4/1961 CARTON STRAPPING-ASSIST DEVICE [75] Inventor: George Bellinder, Des Plaines, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Harold A. Roth, Lake Villa, Ill. a primary Examine, Robert Riordon Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams Attorney-George H. Gerstman part interest [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,622

[57] ABSTRACT A device for aiding persons in strapping cartons havin interlocking bottoms and sides is provided and com prises an elongated rod having clamping means connected to an end thereof, which clamping means are utilized to hold together bendable flaps which extend outwardly from the bottom of the carton and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the sides of the carton.

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UNITED STATES PATENTS 848,036 g 269/6 X 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CARTON STRAPPING-ASSIST DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for assisting the strapping of cartons of the type wherein the underside of the carton is connected to the upright sides by bendable flaps which extend outwardly from the underside and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the upright sides at the bottom thereof.

A widely used type of carton is one in which the bottom, or underside, is interlocked with the upright sides thereof, and strap is looped and fastened around the interlock. Typically, such cartons comprise an underside having bendable flaps which extend outwardly therefrom and connected upright sides having bendable flanges which extend outwardly therefrom at the bottom thereof. The undersides flaps extend more than twice as far out as the flanges. The flaps are scored so that when the cartons upright sides are aligned with the underside, the flaps can be l) folded around the flanges to envelop the flanges, and (2) bent upwardly and strapped to complete an interlocking connection of the underside and upright sides.

Strapping of such cartons has required the use of a number of men, with one or more men holding the flaps and flanges on each side of the carton and a separate man handling the strap. My invention obviates the need for more than one man in performing a complete strapping operation because I provide a novel device which serves to maintain the flaps and flanges in their desired arrangement for strapping, without the need of separate personnel manually holding the flaps and flanges during strapping.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which maintains the aforesaid flaps and flanges in a predetermined relationship during strapping.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which obviates the need for manpower to hold the aforesaid flaps and flanges in a particular position during strapping of a carton to form a strapped interlock.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a strapping-assist device which is simple in construction and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device forassisting the strapping of cartons of the type wherein the underside of the carton is connected to the upright sides by bendable flaps which extend outwardly from the underside and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the upright sides at the bottom thereof. The device comprises an elongated rod with clamping means connected to one endof the rod. The clamping means have front and rear members coupled by a bight portion to form a configuration for clamping one of the flaps enveloping a flange. Holding means are provided in slidable relationship with the rod for holding the rod in an upright position during strapping of the carton by fastening the rod to a portion of the carton that is spaced from the flap.

A more detailed explanation of the present invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the type of carton with which the device of the present invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged, crosssectional view of an interlock formed by a flap which envelops a flange, and illustrating, in phantom line, the folding relationship of the pieces;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a strapping-assist device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is another side elevational view of the device of FIGS. 3 and 4, showing it used in the strapping of a carton which is shown in fragmentary, cross-sectional form;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of another form of strapping-assist device, showing it in use with a carton illustrated in fragmentary, cross-sectional form; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another form of strapping-assist device, showing it in use with another type of carton illustrated in fragmentary, crosssectional form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1., there is shown therein the type of carton 10 with which the present invention is useful. Carton 10 comprises an underside l2 and upright sides 14, the top 16 of which upright sides 14 could be open as shown, or could have closable flaps or the like. Underside 12 is formed with four outwardly extending flaps 18, 20, 22 and 24 which are scored for bending at 18a, 20a, 22a and 24a to form the bottom carton junctions. The flaps are also scored for bending at 18b, 20b, 22b and 24b, which bends are utilized to permit the flaps to envelop flanges 26, 28, 30 and 32 which extend outwardly from the bottom of upright sidesl4.

With reference to FIG. 2 iriparticular, it can be seen that when upright sides 14 and their outwardly extending flanges are laid upon underside 12 and its outwardly extending flaps, th e flaps can'be bent around the respective flanges and turned up to form the interlock shown in full lines in FIG. 2. When all of the flapsare enveloping their respective flanges and are positioned upwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, strap, such as the type sold by Signode Corporation of Chicago, Illinois and formed of steel or plastic, is looped around the carton and its flaps and is tightened to interlock the underside 12 and upright sides 14.

Heretofore when very large cartons were interlocked, it was necessary to use a number of men to hold the flaps in the upward position shown in FIG. 2 while the strap was looped about the flaps for fastening thereto. As explained above, I have invented a device which obviates the need for separate personnel holding the flaps upwardly while another person performs the strapping operation.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, my strapping-assist device comprises an elongated rod 40 having clamping means 42 connected at one end thereof. Clamping means 42 comprises a front member 44, a rear member 46, and a bight portion 48 which couples the front and rear members 44, 46 to form a generally U-shaped member as shown in FIG. 3. Front member 44 has connected thereto, by means of a suitable fastener 50, a spring clip 52 which is utilized to hold a portion of the strap while other portions of the strap are placed within the spring clips of other strapping-assist devices. It can readily be seen that clamping means 42 is forced over bent flap 18 to clamp flap 18 against enveloped flange 26 and to maintain the flap and flange in clamped relationship.

A sleeve 54, which is slidable along elongated rod 40, is provided and has a clip 56 for holding rod 40 against upright sides 14. A handle 58 is also connected to the end of rod 40 opposite from the end to which clamping means 42 is connected.

The manner of use of the device of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown in FIG. 5. The carton illustrated in FIG. 5 has the interlocking bottom shown in FIG. 2 and top flaps 60 which extend from the top of upright sides 14. It can be seen that clamping means 42 clamps flap 18 about flange 26 while clip 56 holds elongated rod 40 against the side of the carton. Four strapping-assist devices are utilized, one for each side, and strap 66 is then looped around the carton and inserted under spring 52 of each of the devices. After it has been completely looped around the carton, it is fastened tightly by a suitable fastening device, such as a conventional seal, as is wellknown in the art, and the strapping-assist devices are merely lifted up and removed from the carton with the strap 66 remaining around the interlock. In many cases it may be advantageous to insert the strapping under the spring clip 52 prior to the clamping of the interlock with the strapping-assist device.

Two additional forms of the strapping-assist device are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, with like numerals used to represent like parts. The FIG. 6 embodiment of the strapping-assist device is utilized for strapping cartons with similar top and bottom interlocks. Referring to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the device comprises lower clamping means that is similarto the clamping means of the device of FIGS. 3-5, with a tube 40 welded at 68 to bight portion 48. Tube 40' is adapted to receive rod 40in relatively snug but sliding relationship to permit rod 40 to telescope within tube 40'. Rod 40 is fastened by suitable fastening means to clamping means 42', which is identical in structure to clamping means 42 but has its open portion extending upwardly instead of downwardly. Clamping means 42' comprises front member 44 and rear member 46, which front and rear members are coupled by bight portion 48'. Spring clip 52' is fastened to front member 44 by fastening means 50' and the clamping means are utilized to clamp flap 18' which extends from top member 12 about flange 26' which extends from upright sides 14 in the same manner that the clamping means 42 clamps flap 18 about flange 26. Strap 66' is positioned under spring clip 52 in the same manner that strap 66 is positioned under spring clip 52 in the FIGS. 35 embodiment.

The form of the strapping-assist device illustrated in FIG. 7 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 except that tube 40 is fastened to clamping means 42' and clip 56 is affixed to tube 40. Rod 40 is fastened to clamping means 42 and it can thus be seen that clamping means 42 and 42 are relatively movable with respect to each other just as with the FIG. 6 form of the invention. However, the FIG. 7 form of the invention can be utilized in connection with cartons having top and bottom interlocks (as illustrated in FIG. 6) as well as with cartons having simple bends at the top thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7. It can be seen that the device of FIG. 7 operates similarly to the device of FIG. 6 when used in conjunction with a carton having top and bottom interlocks and operates similarly to the device of FIG. 5 when used with a carton having another type of closure. As with the FIGS. 3-5 device, the strap may be inserted under spring clips 52 and 52 either before or after the device is connected to the cartons.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for assisting the strapping of cartons, which cartons are of the type wherein the underside of the carton is connected to the upright sides by bendable flaps which extend outwardly from said underside and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the upright sides at the bottom thereof, which device comprises: an elongated rod; clamping means connected to one end of said rod, said clamping means having front and rearmembers coupled by a bight portion to form a configuration for clamping one of said flaps enveloping a flange; and holding means in slidable relationship with said rod for holding said rod in an upright position during strapping of said carton by fastening the rod to a portion of the carton that is spaced from said flap.

2. A device as described in claim 1, and further including a spring clip affixed to the front of said clamping means for maintaining strap in place with respect to the flap to which said device is connected, until the strapping operation is completed.

3. A device as described in claim 1, said holding means comprising a member for securing said rod to the top of said cartonfsaid member being affixed to a sleeve that is slidable along said rod.

4. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the open end of said clamping means extends downwardly when the rod is in an upright position, and wherein said rod is fastened to said bight portion of said clamping means.

5. A device as described in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises from and rear members coupled to a bight portion to form a configuration for clamping one of the flaps at the top of said carton which is similar to the flaps at the bottom of the carton, said holding means and said clamping means being relatively collinearly movable.

6. A device as described in claim 5, and further including a spring clip affixed to the front of said clamping means for maintaining strap in place with respect to the flap to which said device is connected, until the strapping operation is completed.

7. A device as described in claim 5, wherein the open end of said holding means extends upwardly and the open end of said clamping means extends downwardly when the rod is in an upright position.

8. A device as described in claim 5, and further including a member fastened to said holding means for securing said rod to the top of a carton until the strapping operation is completed. 

1. A device for assisting the strapping of cartons, which cartons are of the type wherein thE underside of the carton is connected to the upright sides by bendable flaps which extend outwardly from said underside and which envelop bendable flanges that extend outwardly from the upright sides at the bottom thereof, which device comprises: an elongated rod; clamping means connected to one end of said rod, said clamping means having front and rear members coupled by a bight portion to form a configuration for clamping one of said flaps enveloping a flange; and holding means in slidable relationship with said rod for holding said rod in an upright position during strapping of said carton by fastening the rod to a portion of the carton that is spaced from said flap.
 2. A device as described in claim 1, and further including a spring clip affixed to the front of said clamping means for maintaining strap in place with respect to the flap to which said device is connected, until the strapping operation is completed.
 3. A device as described in claim 1, said holding means comprising a member for securing said rod to the top of said carton, said member being affixed to a sleeve that is slidable along said rod.
 4. A device as described in claim 1, wherein the open end of said clamping means extends downwardly when the rod is in an upright position, and wherein said rod is fastened to said bight portion of said clamping means.
 5. A device as described in claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises front and rear members coupled to a bight portion to form a configuration for clamping one of the flaps at the top of said carton which is similar to the flaps at the bottom of the carton, said holding means and said clamping means being relatively collinearly movable.
 6. A device as described in claim 5, and further including a spring clip affixed to the front of said clamping means for maintaining strap in place with respect to the flap to which said device is connected, until the strapping operation is completed.
 7. A device as described in claim 5, wherein the open end of said holding means extends upwardly and the open end of said clamping means extends downwardly when the rod is in an upright position.
 8. A device as described in claim 5, and further including a member fastened to said holding means for securing said rod to the top of a carton until the strapping operation is completed. 